Plot Points #29 🎄
Secondhand presents, book lists, conveyer belts of doom, and an Advent guide
Hey friends and happy Friday! It’s good to have you here.
I have a thought: Let’s normalize giving secondhand gifts.
I don’t mean re-gifting, per se, unless the gift you have is just that good. I mean purchasing items already in the waste stream, many of which are still in excellent condition.
I’m a big thrifter. I have my own little vintage shop at an antique mall in north Atlanta. Most of the clothes I own now are secondhand and many of the books and decor pieces are, too. I can’t tell you how often I find brands like Madewell, A New Day, Old Navy, and ASOS with the tags still on. There’s a bunch of crap, too (Shein, I’m looking at you!) but with a little patience, you can find some real treasures. Some people are weird about pre-loved items and I get it, but there’s little a good sanitizing wash or spray cannot clean if you’re buying secondhand or vintage pieces already in good condition.
A few years back, our family decided to give only thrifted Secret Santa gifts and it was a huge success. Every item was super intentional, given that we had to sift through so much to find them, and we all walked away with thoughtful, lovely presents that were gentle on our wallets.
So. That’s it. That’s my thought for this week.
Shop secondhand, friends. Your wallet, your loved ones, and the Earth will thank you.
Point #1: I will never tire of year-end book lists.
Every year,
gives us her favorite (er, I mean favourite) books of the year, and I basically had to copy her entire list this week. She never fails to disappoint! And if you have any other book lists to share, by all means, DO 👇🏼.Point #2: Let’s all get off the conveyer belt.
has been publishing some incredibly powerful essays from Gen Z lately on how social media has hijacked their generation’s sense of self and caused so much harm. This essay from is a call to action and a plea for us parents to do better for Gen A: “We didn’t just grow up with algorithms. They raised us. They rearranged our faces. Shaped our identities. Convinced us we were sick…[but] you aren’t ugly. You are probably not sick. And if you are, let a doctor tell you that, not an influencer chosen by an algorithm.”Point #3: I love a free Advent guide.
Our church made two beautiful Advent guides this season—one for families to read together and one for adults—and they are free to download right here! Each day offers a Scripture reading, a devotional, something to listen to, a question to ponder, and a prayer reflection, as well as details on what candles to light and when. (I don’t know about you, but I still get confused about this!) Oh, and there’s also an Advent podcast created just for the youth if you wanna share that with your big kids.
Point #4: “I want my mind to be stuffed with story.”
Allowing my work to speak for itself in a culture that constantly tells me I need to promote! share! go viral! is honestly dehumanizing and disheartening. It’s still the thing I wrestle with most about leaving Instagram, and award-winning author Laura Steven at penned an essay this week on exactly this topic. (Although she says it much more eloquently than I could.) If you’re feeling the strain of becoming a brand instead of a writer, give it a read.
Bonus Point: Get the ingredients from your backyard.
Who wants to make THESE cookies for Christmas?! 🤶
Word of the Week
Scurryfunge: (v.) A hasty tidying of the house when a last-minute guest is coming to visit. (See also: Me at Bible study this week.)
Reading in The Nook
Someone left In Five Years by Rebecca Serle in our Little Free Library and I screamed when I saw it. It’s one of those novels you see everywhere but never buy, even though you really want to read it. I had to snatch it up. Romance with a speculative fiction twist (think every book Cecilia Ahern has written) is so much fun to read and I can’t wait to find out what happens In Five Years.
If you’ve read it, tell me what you think! 👇🏼 (Just no spoilers, please.)
At the recommendation of a reader (thanks !) I checked out The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson and it was just as hilarious and lovely as Annelise said. I got the picture book edition to read with Theo, but the original novel is up next. I truly hope Theo’s Christmas pageant next weekend lives up to the chaos!
What are you reading right now? Tell me in the comments! 👇🏼
“Civilized nations open libraries.”
—John Major—
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